Page 33 of Vengeance in Venice
Giusti nodded. “He supported the revolution and made peace when we had to. He bears no grudges, and nor does anyone else against him.”
“And his business thrives?”
“Pretty well.” Giusti cocked his head to one side. “You are wondering if he killed Savelli to take his business more easily. I would find that unlikely.”
“Unless he too has atendrefor Signora Savelli,” Constance said.
“He probably does. She is that kind of woman.” His eyes gleamed at her. “Like you.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Constance murmured. “Was Elena faithful to her husband?”
The smile died in his eyes. “How would I know? I am the last man she would turn to.” He straightened, as though conscious he had given too much away. “But in my opinion—for all that is worth—if she chose a lover, it would not be Premarin.”
“Why not?”
“He is a clever man, an entertaining man, and a wealthy one. But he is old.”
And now Elena did not like him. Was that significant?
*
When they roseto leave, the light was fading, and Giusti yelled for Luigi to show them out, the act of a man who had nothing to fear from whatever his servant might say to them.
Solomon lengthened his stride and caught up with the manservant. “Signor Giusti suggested I ask you if you knew anything against Signor Savelli’s servants.”
“I meet some of them sometimes. They are mostly decent men.”
“What of the new men he hired as bodyguards?”
Luigi shrugged. “I wouldn’t accuse them lightly of cheating at cards. But I’ve known worse.”
“Did you ever hear why he might have hired such men?”
“Protection for the signora.”
“Is that why they attacked your master?”
Luigi curled his lip. The contempt was not for his master. “He is no danger to her. Only to himself.”
“What do you mean by that?” Solomon asked.
“Nothing. Is there anything else?”
“Yes,” Solomon said, ignoring the insolence. “The night your master was attacked, what time did he come home?”
“Not long after midnight. As I already told the police.”
“I am not the police. I have no authority at all. But I need the truth to prove Signor Giusti’s innocence.”
“And your own, from what I hear.”
“You hear correctly. Did you tend his wounds that night?”
“Yes.”
“What time did you leave him?”
“About one, or a little after.”
